Concert notes: Petra cancels, but Morrissey still a go

The ever-modest Morrissey is playing the Majestic Theatre on Monday despite his guitarist's visa problem. (Courtesy photo)

From the Stuff That Makes Me Really Nervous Dept. — getting emails like this during Weekender production:

From the Majestic Theatre: “PETRA CANCELLED” (caps are theirs, but I felt the same way; Yikes!)

From Morrissey’s publicist: “Morrissey concert in Chicago postponed.”

Both emails referred to Thursday shows. In Petra’s case, the show two days hence at the Charline McCombs Empire Theater was canceled because of poor ticket sales. In fact, the entire tour was canceled because of poor ticket sales.

Apparently the reunion of the trailblazing Christian-rock band’s classic lineup from the mid-’80s wasn’t much of a selling point. Maybe another lineup — the one that contained former Head East leader John Schlitt — would have done better; maybe not. Maybe a Stryper reunion would have been a hotter ticket.

Of course, the cancellation happened after music writer Hector Saldana’s preview of the show was done and attached to a Weekender page this afternoon. Hate it when that happens.

Hector (who probably hates it even more than I do) had been promised an interview Monday as well. It was postponed, the fell through; this explains why, apparently. Band members are usually reluctant to do interviews when their tours appear to be doomed. (Although there are exceptions — music writer Jim Beal Jr. had already interviewed Gary Wright when HippieFest was canceled back on Labor Day weekend).

No, this isn't Tori Amos -- it's Morrissey's opening act, Kristeen Young, who turned out to be a very good interview. (Courtesy photo)

As for Morrissey, he was supposed to open his tour in Chicago on Thursday, with Monday’s show at the Majestic being the next stop. But Morrissey’s guitarist wasn’t cleared to perform in the U.S. yet because of a visa screwup.

Tthe rest of the notice brought my blood pressure down at bit:

“Thursday’s sold out concert at the Congress Theatre in Chicago has been rescheduled for Saturday December 17, 2011. The issue is out of Morrissey’s hands but it will not affect Monday’s concert at the Majestic Theatre (italics mine) in San Antonio, nor will it affect the rest of the tour.”

Whew. We were able to plug the Petra hole by moving some stuff around, but finding a Plan B had Morrissey been forced to postpone would have been a major calamity. We have a full page of Morrissey coverage planned.

Beal, who shared the Full Morrissey Experience with me back in 1992 in Municipal Auditorium (his only show here to date), had interviewed opening act Kristeen Young and several Morrissey devotees, including one of the members of Girl in a Coma (who took their name from a Smiths tune) and a KSYM jock who had “Morrissey” tattooed on his forearm after Morrissey himself autographed said arm after a show.

So let’s get that visa straightened out. Now! Or at least don’t postpone the show until Weekender is in print Thursday. Thank you.